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NewsMacro · AMZN

Oregon High School Counselor Faces Backlash Over Children's Book on 'Chosen Family'

A children's book authored by an Oregon high school counselor has drawn sharp criticism after a promotional video clip resurfaced online, with conservative critics contending the work encourages young children to prioritize bonds outside their biological families. Madi Bourdon, a counselor at Milwaukie High School & Academy of the Arts, wrote "A Kids Book About Chosen Family," which an Amazon listing describes as targeted at children ages 5 to 9.

By Grant HalloranNewsroomJune 28, 20262 min readAMZN
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Key takeaways

  • An Oregon high school counselor, Madi Bourdon of Milwaukie High School & Academy of the Arts, wrote 'A Kids Book About Chosen Family,' which faced backlash after a promotional clip resurfaced online.
  • The book, listed on Amazon for children ages 5 to 9, promotes 'chosen family,' described as people who love and support you for being your truest self, biological or not.
  • Bourdon said the book is an invitation to discuss finding supportive people and argued biological family members are not always family in the ways that matter.
  • Conservative critics, including the X account Libs of TikTok and Courage Is A Habit co-founder Jennifer McWilliams, said the book tells children they can cut off unaccepting parents and find a new family.
  • The Milwaukie school district declined to comment on the substance, saying it does not address employees' private activities or books authored by individuals in a personal capacity.

A children's book authored by an Oregon high school counselor has drawn sharp criticism after a promotional video clip resurfaced online, with conservative critics contending the work encourages young children to prioritize bonds outside their biological families. Madi Bourdon, a counselor at Milwaukie High School & Academy of the Arts, wrote "A Kids Book About Chosen Family," which an Amazon listing describes as targeted at children ages 5 to 9.

The Book's Core Argument

Bourdon's book centers on the concept of "chosen family," described in the listing as "people who love, see, and support you for being your truest self." Speaking in the clip that circulated Thursday via the X account Libs of TikTok, Bourdon framed the book as a conversation-starter rather than a directive. "This book is just the invitation to discuss the importance of finding your people, those who see and love you for you, biological or not," she said.

Bourdon elaborated that "members of one's biological family are not always the people who are family in the ways that matter." She tied the book's premise to the current political moment, citing what she described as legislation targeting underrepresented communities and the normalization of hateful rhetoric, arguing that chosen families can offer "a unique alternative" during a period of intense division.

Conservative Backlash

The Libs of TikTok post characterized the book as telling children they can "cut off their parents and find a new family" if those parents are not accepting of their gender identity — a framing that amplified criticism across conservative accounts on X. Jennifer McWilliams, co-founder of Courage Is A Habit, wrote in a Wednesday post that Bourdon "believes children should choose their family & the family they were born to is NOT more important than a 'Chosen Family.'"

The clip drew additional attention to Bourdon's office background, which featured what appeared to be a Pride flag, a "Black Lives Matter" sign displaying a Black power fist, and other posters and illustrations.

School District Declines to Engage

Milwaukie High School & Academy of the Arts did not address the substance of the criticism. A school district spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the district does not comment on the private activities of employees, nor does it have any involvement in books authored by private individuals in a personal capacity. The statement left unresolved whether the district intends to review the matter further.

About this story

Filed by the newsroom of MarketPR on June 28, 2026. Source: foxnews.com. Indicative figures are not investment advice.

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Frequently asked

Who wrote the children's book and where does she work?

Madi Bourdon, a counselor at Milwaukie High School & Academy of the Arts in Oregon, wrote 'A Kids Book About Chosen Family.'

What is the book about and who is its intended audience?

The book centers on the concept of 'chosen family'—people who love and support you for being your truest self—and its Amazon listing targets children ages 5 to 9.

Why did the book draw criticism?

Conservative critics, amplified by the X account Libs of TikTok, contended the book encourages children to prioritize bonds outside their biological families and to cut off parents who are not accepting of their gender identity.

How did Bourdon describe the purpose of the book?

She framed it as a conversation-starter rather than a directive, calling it an invitation to discuss the importance of finding supportive people, biological or not.

How did the school district respond?

A district spokesperson told Fox News Digital that it does not comment on the private activities of employees or on books authored by private individuals in a personal capacity, leaving unresolved whether it will review the matter further.